Editors' Review

Not only does Secunia Personal Software Inspector provide extensive details on the software installed on your computer, it also gives you direct links to update programs that are older and potentially not secure.

The interface mixes professional layout with a text-heavy, spartan design. At the top right of the program window, users can choose a Simple or Advanced layout. Under Simple, Secunia provides basic information about the installed program statuses, with a chart to gauge their security over time and a simplified listing of any errors. Clicking on an error leads you through the proprietary Easy-to-Patch program update process, which automatically excludes more challenging updates. The Advanced layout tab exposes more details and more updates. It also checks your Microsoft XML, your Adobe Flash player installation, and others programs, looking for mission-critical holes and their respective updates. Installed programs get flagged as Patched, End-of-Life, and Insecure, with the most recent reported threat noted with a colored bar and a mouse-over label on the right column.

Scanning can be slow, and occasionally the scan restarted for a second round automatically after completing its first pass. However, the update process was seamless, and once you update a program, it moves into the Patched list after about 5 minutes, because Secunia defaults to run in the background. The End-of-Life tab offers up a toolbox with quick access to Add/Remove Programs, the listed software's folder, and online references. Secunia's plain language for instructions and explanations enhances the already robust update package, making this a highly-recommended freeware.

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Publisher's Description

The Secunia PSI allows you to scan, detect, check, and secure the applications installed on your computer. Get an assessment of the applications installed on your computer are they insecure, end-of-life, or patched. The Secunia PSI enables you to secure your applications, and to quickly and easily upgrade to new and secure versions of applications installed on your computer. Providing a graphical presentation of your performance week by week.

What's new in this version:

Version 2.0 improved Presentation of Scan Result and integration with Secunia CSI.

This one automatically checks the operating system and all the installed programs for out of date or end of use or update needed.

Cons

I haven't really had anything that i would say as con.

Summary

If you hate to update your system or the different programs all the time, then this one will help you with it. Mine is set to scan Weds. as the MS does its thing Tuesday evening. I have had the Secunia find things from MS that did not make it to my computer. That same time i do all the other updating that Secunia finds. It tells you what is wrong and the fix for it. Fast and easy!!

It does its job although end-of-life programs don't seem to uninstall. That's not Secunia's fault.

Cons

If you want to use taskschd.msc in Windows 7, the newest version of PSI won't allow it to run. So I've gone back to its predecessor and everything is fine. For those of you who don't use taskschd.msc and use Windows 7 see the Windows 7 Forum?

Summary

I ran out of room. In the Windows 7 Forum you will find a post on creating shortcuts to programs that you trust and that previously were hassled by UAC. I have about twenty of those and it's great not to be hassled. For this you do need taskschd.msc. Too bad because PSI is a great program but I'll wait until they patch that little problem.

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